The risk of fractures, acute myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmia in geriatric patients exposed to promethazine

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the risk of fractures, acute myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, and ventricular arrhythmia among Danish citizens aged ≥ 65 which were new users of promethazine or domperidone, triazolam, loratadine, and betahistine. Secondly, the study aimed to perform a risk stratification to identify the most relevant predictors for the study outcomes.Methods: The study period was 01/01/2015 to 31/12/2016. The data sources were the Danish registers. Each patient was followed for 90 days. A logistic regression model was used to compute the unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (OR), and a conditional inference tree was used to identify the most relevant predictors for the study outcomes.Results: Promethazine had a higher risk of hospitalization for atrial fibrillation than loratadine and betahistine (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.07-2.63 and OR 3.22; 95% CI 1.69-7.14, respectively). For fractures, acute myocardial infarction, and ventricular arrhythmia hospitalizations, no statistically significant differences were found among drugs under investigation. The medical history of cardiac arrhythmia (OR 4.14; 95% CI 2.94-5.78, p<0.0001) was the most relevant predictor for atrial fibrillation hospitalizations.Conclusion: This study found an increased risk of atrial fibrillation hospitalization among promethazine users, and the risk was higher among patients with prior cardiac arrhythmia.

Original languageEnglish
JournalExpert Opinion on Drug Safety
Volume19
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)349-357
ISSN1474-0338
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

ID: 234080439